Toy balloon novelty



APH] 21, 1953 R. M. ANDERsoN ToY BALLooN NovELTY Filed June 12, 1950 INV EN TOR.

BY Wa/MW ATTORNEY' Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETOY BALLOON NOVELTY Richard M. Anderson, Rockford, Ill.

Application June 12, 1950, Serial No. 167,519

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a toy balloon novelty.

One object of the invention is the novel arrangement for mounting aballoon so that it may form a Valve means for controlling the flow ofair to and from the balloon.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a toynovelty of the above character having a plurality of balloons, onedisposed within the other and arranged so that the balloons can beselectively or simultaneously infiated from a single mouthpiece inaccor'dance with the desires of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty of the abovecharacter that not only may be used as a toy but is extremelymeritorious for advertising, display and sales promotional purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy novelty of the abovecharacter that is simple to construct, easy to manufacture andinexpensive to produce.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of thetoy novelty embodying the present invention being inflated by anoperator;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the details ofconstruction and mounting of the balloons on the combined mouthpiece andballoon support;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing how the operator'sfingers are utilized for closing the passageways in communication withone of the balloons to permit independent inflation of the otherballoon;

Fig. 5 is a modification of the mouthpiece and balloon support membershown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is another modification of the mouthpiece shown in Fig. 2 adaptedfor mounting a single balloon.

One embodiment of the toy balloon novelty is shown in Figs. 1-4 andincludes a pair of toy balloons and |2, one disposed within the other,and a combined mouthpiece and balloon support member or body l3 shapedto support the balloons and having passageways arranged so that air maybe blown into the balloons either simultaneously or selectively asdesired by the operator or user of the novelty.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 the balloon is disposed within theballoon |2. These balloons may be of the type commonly sold on themarket having neck portions |4 and |6 terminatng in beads Il and |8respectively. While the diameter of the bead |'l or the opening of theballoon is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the bead |8 or openingof the balloon |2, it is to be understood that in some instances thediameter of the beads may be the same.

The combined mouthpiece and balloon support member |3 includes acylindrical portion IQ shaped to be received in the operator's mouth orplaced against the operatorls lips as shown in Figure 1 to form amouthpiece, a balloon support portion 2| rigid with the portion [9 andextending axially therefrom and a balloon support portion 22 rigid withand extending axially outwardly from the portion 2|. The portion 2| ispreferably of cylindrical shape and as shown in Fig. 2 may be of thesame diameter as the mouthpiece portion |9. The diameter of the portion2| is slightly larger than the diameter of the neck |6 and bead |8 ofthe balloon |2 so that the neck must be stretched slightly to be mountedon the portion 2|. Preferably the balloon support portion 22 is ofcylindrical shape of slightly smaller diameter than the portion 2|. Asshown, the diameter of the balloon support portion 22 is slightly largerthan the diameter of the neck |4 and bead I'l so that they must bestretched slightly when mounted on the portion 22 as shown. Extendingaxially of the combined mouthpiece and balloon support member |3 is apassageway 23 opening on the axial face of the mouthpiece |9. Radiallyextending passageways 24 formed in the portion 2| intersect thepassageway 23 and open on the peripheral surface of the portion 2|, asshown in Fig. 2, so that when the balloon is mounted on the balloonsupport portion 2|, portions of the neck 16 of the balloon |2 stretchover the openings of the passageways 24 on opposite sides of the portion2| to close the passageways 24. In a similar manner passageways 26formed in the balloon support portion 22 extend radially of the. portion22 and intersect the passageway 23 at its inner end. The outer ends ofthe passageways 26 open on the peripheral surface of the portion 22 andare arranged so that portions of the neck M of the balloon are stretchedover the openings of the passageways 26 on opposite sides of the balloonsupporting portion 22 when the balloon is mounted thereon. With thisconstruction the neck |6 of the balloon |2 and the neck |4 of theballoon in effect form flexible valve elements which are operable topermit the passage of air under pressure into the balloons and preventthe exhaust of air from the balloons.

Any suitable material such as Wood, plastic,

metal or other material may be used for forming the combined mouthpieceand balloon support member. The respective passageways may be formed inthe body by molding processes, drilling, or the like. The combinedmouthpiece and balloon support is preferably formed as a unitary member;however, it may be formed by a plurality of pieces assembled together.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the balloons I I and [2on the balloon support portions 2| and 22. In this embodiment of theinvention the bead IB of the balloon 12 is shaped to be disposed in anannular groove 21 formed on the balloon support portion 2|. In a similarmanner the bead I'l of the balloon Il is shaped to be received in anannular groove 28 formed on the balloon supporting portion 22. Theannular gro-oves 21 and 28 are of such diameter that the beads of theballoons in their mounted position tend to contract into the grooves 21and 28 and thereby retain the balloons in position. It is to beun-derstood that shoulder means or separate clamping means such as arubber band or a tape wrapped around the bead of the balloon and securedto the balloon support portions 21 and 22 could be utilized wheredesired.

The operation of the balloon is readily apparent from the drawings butmay be summarized as follows: Fig. 2 shows the normal position of theballoons in their defiated condition. The operator grasps the mouthpieceand balloon support 13 between two fingers such as shown in Figure l andplaces the mouthpiece 19 against his lips. The operator then blows airthrough the passageway 23. Assuming that the operatorls fingers aredisposed so that they do not cover the ends of the passageways 24 or theends of the passageways 26 air will flow from the passageway 23 into thepassageways 24, then force the neck IS of the balloon l2 away from theballoon support portion 2| so that air may enter the balloon 12 andcause inflation of the latter. Simultaneously air will flow frompassageway 23 out the ends of the passageways 26 to force the neck l4 ofthe balloon Il away from the balloon support portion 22 so that air canbe forced into the balloon H and thereby infiate the latter. Thus, bothballoons H and i2 will be infiated simultaneously. If the operatorplaces a thumb and forenger over the ends of the passageways 24 such asshown in Fig. 4, air is prevented from flowing out the ends of thepassageway 24 and all the air will fiow from passageway 23 through thepassageways 26 into the balloon II. In a similar manner if the operatorplaces his fingers over the ends of the passageways 25 it will be seenthat all of the air will be caused to flow from the passageway 23through the passageways 24 into the balloon |2. Thus, this constructionprovides a novelty in which the balloons ll and |2 can be inflatedsimultaneously 01' can be infiated selectively as desired by theoperator of the user. To remove the air from either balloon it is onlynecessary to squeeze the neck of the balloon and pull it outwardly fromthe respective balloon support portion to uncover the ends of theradially extending passageways and effect communication betweenatmosphere and the interior of the balloons.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. the combined mouthpieceand balloon support 3| is of a construction similar to that shown inFig. 2 except that only one radially 'extending passageway 32 is formedin a balloon support portion 33 and only one radially extendingpassageway is formed in a balloon support portion 34. Both passagewaysare arranged to communicate with an axially extending passageway 34opening on the axial face of the mouthpiece as described hereinbefore.

In Fig. 6 there is shown another embodiment of the invention which isadapted for mounting a single balloon 4|. The construction of thismouthpiece and balloon support body 42 is substantially the same as thatshown in Fig. 2 except that the mouthpiece and support body is arrangedto support only a single balloon. As shown, the combined mouthpiece andballoon support body includes a mouthpiece portion 43 and a balloonsupport portion 44. A passageway 46 extends axially through the body 42and opens on the axial face thereof of the mouthpiece portion 43. Aradially extending passageway 41 is in communication with the passageway48 and opens on the perpheral surface of the balloon support portion 44.An annular groove 48 is formed on the balloon support portion 44 forreceiving the bead of the balloon in a manner similar to that describedhereinbefore. It is to be understood that this construction alsooperates in a manner similar to that described hereinbefore.

This toy novelty has many advantages both as a toy, which appeals tochildren and adults alike, and as an advertising and sales promotionnovelty. While this structure appeals greatly to both children andadults When plain balloons are used, the desire or appeal for thisnovelty can be enhanced by printing different characters, animals andthe like on the inner and outer balloons. For example, the outer balloonmay take the shape of a cat and the inner balloon may be in the form ofa mouse. With this construction when the balloons are in their infiatedpositions it would appear to a casual observer that the cat had eatenthe mouse. Accordingly, the cat's face can be printed so that the cat issmiling or has a look of contentment. Insofar as advertising isconcerned, the inner balloon may have one design of printing formed onit and the outer balloon may have a second design of printing formed onit and which together give a third composite design. A printed questionmay appear on the outer balloon and the answer may appear on the innerballoon. The above of course are only illustrative of the great numberof designs or uses of this novelty. The number and combination ofcharacters, designs or the like that can be utilized is limited only bythe artistic sense of the designer.

The arrangement by which the balloon forms a part of the valve means forcontrolling the fiow of air into the balloon is advantageous in manyrespects since it provides a means for readily controlling the infiationand deation of the balloon. Heretofore it has been customary to tie thenecl'. of the balloon in a knot after it has been inflated. Frequentlythe knot is so tight that it cannot be untied and consequently theballoon cannot be readily deflated. By utilizing a combined mouthpieceand balloon support member constructed in the manner disclosed herein,the operator of the balloon can blow the balloon up and the balloonitself provides a valve means which prevents the flow of air from theballoon and which can be readily manipulated to effect defiation of theballoon.

Iclaim:

1. In a toy balloon novelty, the combination of a body having amouthpiece portion, a first balloon support portion extending axially ofthe mouthpiece portion and a second balloon support portion of reduceddiameter extending axially beyond the first balloon support portion in adirection away from the mouthpiece portion and closed at its end remotefrom the mouthpiece portion, said body having a passageway opening onthe mouthpiece end of said body and opening on the axially extendingperipheral surfaces of both the first and second balloon supportportions.

2. In a toy balloon novelty, the combination of a body having amouthpiece portion, a first balloon support portion extending axially ofthe mouthpiece portion and a second balloon support portion of smallerdiameter than said first balloon support portion extending axiallybeyond the first balloon support in a direction away from the mouthpieceportion and terminating in a closed end remote from the mouthpieceportion, said body having passageway means opening on the mouthpiece endof said body and opening on the axially extending peripheral surface ofsaid first balloon support portion and opening on the axialy extendingperipheral surface of said second balloon support portion, a firstballoon of elastic material having a neck of slightly smaller diameterthan said first balloon support portion, and a second balloon of elasticmaterial disposed inside said first balloon and having a neck portion ofslightly smaller diameter than said second balloon support portion, saidneck portion of the first balloon when mounted on said first balloonsupport portion extending snugly around the axially extending peripherythereof to be stretched over said opening on said first balloon supportportion to form a valve means operable to permt the flow of air underpressure to said first balloon and prevent the exhaust of air therefrom,and the neck portion of said second balloon when mounted on said secondballoon support portion extending snugly around the axially extendingperiphery thereof to be stretched over the opening of said passageway onthe second balloon support portion to form a valve operable to permt airunder pressure to fiow into the second balloon and prevent the exhaustof air therefrom.

3. In a toy balloon novelty, the combination of a body having amouthpiece portion, a first cylindrical balloon support portion rigidwith and extending axially outwardly from the mouthpiece portion and asecond cylindrical balloon support portion of smaller diameter than saidfirst balloon support portion rigid with and extending axially outwardlyfrom said first balloon support portion in a direction away from themouthpiece portion and terminating in a closed end remote from themouthpiece portion, said first balloon support portion having an annulargroove formed on its cylindrical periphery, said second balloon supportportion having an annular groove formed on its cylindrical periphery,said body having a passageway means opening on the mouthpiece end ofsaid body and opening on the cylindrical peripheral surface of saidfirst balloon support portion between the annular groove therein and thesecond balloon support portion, said passageway also opening on thecylindrical peripheral surface of said second balloon support portionbetween the annular groove therein and the end of the body remote fromthe mouthpiece portion, a first balloon of elastic material having aneck and beaded portion of slightly smaller diameter than said firstballoon support portion and arranged to have the bead thereon receivedin said annular groove on said first balloon support portion, and asecond balloon of elastic material disposed inside said first balloonand having a neck and beaded portion of slightly smaller diameter thansaid second balloon support portion arranged to have the bead thereonreceived in said annular groove on said second ballon support portion,said neck portion of the first balloon when mounted on said firstballoon support portion snugly surrounding the cylindrical peripherythereof to be stretched over said opening at the periphery of said firstballoon support portion to form a valve means operable to permt the fiowof air under pressure to said first balloon and prevent the exhaust ofair therefrom, and the neck portion of said second balloon when mountedon said second balloon support portion snugly surrounding thecylindrical periphery thereof to be stretched over said opening at theperiphery of said second balloon support portion to form a valveoperable to permt air under pressure to flow into the second balloon andprevent the exhaust of air therefrom.

RICHARD M. ANDERSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,315,955 Gill Sept. 16, 1919 2,540,403 Meyers Feb. 6, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,660 Great Britain May 18, 189632,571 France Sept. 6, 1927 488,336 Germany Jan. 6, 1930

